A special court in Jharkhand has denied bail to L. Khiangte, the former chairman of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC), in a case concerning alleged manipulation and irregularities in the commission’s 14th civil services examination. Khiangte, who previously served as Jharkhand’s Chief Secretary, was arrested by the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on August 10. His arrest came as investigators expanded their probe into alleged wrongdoing surrounding the examination process. The case has attracted considerable attention because it involves allegations concerning a major government recruitment examination. Investigators are examining the role of officials and other individuals associated with the conduct and evaluation of the examination.

During the proceedings, the CID submitted a detailed case diary running to around 1,000 pages, containing material gathered during the investigation. The agency has alleged that there was evidence linking several accused persons to the examination irregularities. Khiangte’s defence, however, argued that there was no strong evidence directly establishing his involvement. His lawyers maintained that searches conducted during the investigation did not produce incriminating material against him and sought his release on bail. The prosecution opposed the bail plea, pointing to the seriousness of the allegations and the material collected during the investigation.

The court heard arguments from both sides before deciding the application. The alleged irregularities have also raised wider concerns among job aspirants in the state, with candidates and political groups demanding greater transparency in the recruitment process. The controversy has added to longstanding concerns surrounding examination related disputes involving recruitment bodies in Jharkhand. Several other people have also been arrested in connection with the case. Investigators are continuing to examine the alleged role of JPSC officials, private agencies involved in conducting examinations and other individuals connected to the process. The bail rejection means Khiangte will continue to remain in custody as the investigation and legal proceedings move forward. The allegations against him, however, remain subject to the judicial process and have not been established as guilt.